Royal Albert Drive was badly damaged during a car-rally when Hopcraft performed wheel-spins with his handbrake on.

The tarmac, which had only just been laid, was churned up.

Hopcraft spun the wheels so much that the tyres burst and shredded. The wheel rims then started gouging the road surface.

The cost to repair the damage came to £47,740.

Hopcraft was given a seven-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work, fined £750 and ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge. The victim is defined as the county council, which had to fix the road.

Hopcraft was banned from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended driving test at the end of his disqualification period.Investigating officer PC Will Lane said: “Having a driving licence is a privilege, not a right. On the evening of 15 October, Hopcraft abused that privilege and drove with no thought for anyone else, let alone the damage, cost and inconvenience he caused to law-abiding members of the public.“Public safety will always be our priority and I hope that if and when Hopcraft regains his licence, his attitude to driving and other road users will be significantly improved.

“I welcome the sentence handed out, which sends a clear message that such disregard for safety and other road users will not be tolerated in Scarborough”.

Since Hopcraft’s offence, car-rallies on the seafront have been banned.